Overview
This lecture examines recent trends in cohabitation, marriage, and divorce, exploring their causes, impacts, and how evolving social, cultural, and economic forces shape modern relationships.
Trends in Cohabitation
- Cohabitation (living together without marriage) has risen sharply across all age groups from 1996 to 2012, especially among 25-34-year-olds.
- Increasingly, cohabitation is seen as a long-term alternative, even among older adults.
- Cohabitation is viewed as a "trial marriage," helping couples assess compatibility before making a lifelong commitment.
Causes of Changes in Cohabitation and Marriage
- Societal attitudes prioritize personal happiness, emotional fulfillment, and career development over traditional marital expectations.
- Secularization (declining religious influence) reduces the pressure to marry, normalizing cohabitation.
- Economic pressures, such as high housing costs and student debt, make cohabitation a practical and affordable choice.
- Feminist perspectives see these trends as promoting autonomy and gender equality in relationships.
Impacts of Increased Cohabitation
- Cohabiting couples tend to share responsibilities more equally than married couples.
- Cohabitation offers flexibility and autonomy but is statistically less stable than marriage.
- Concerns include potential disadvantages for children of cohabiting couples (e.g., financial instability).
- New Right theorists argue cohabitation undermines traditional family structures.
Changes in Marriage
- Marriage rates in the UK have steadily declined since the mid-20th century, with people marrying later in life.
- Legal reforms raised the marriage age to 18 in 2023 and recognize diversity (e.g., same-sex, open, and arranged marriages).
- Economic factors and shifting attitudes have made marriage less of a necessity and more of a personal milestone.
Causes of Decline in Marriage
- Individuals prioritize emotional fulfillment and personal growth before marrying.
- "Pure relationships" (based on mutual satisfaction) lead to higher expectations and less tolerance for unfulfilling marriages.
- Secularization and economic uncertainty prompt delays or avoidance of marriage, especially among younger generations.
Impacts of Declining Marriage Rates
- Fewer women feel pressured to marry for economic reasons, promoting independence.
- Critics fear erosion of traditional family values and weaker support networks for children and the elderly.
Trends and Causes of Divorce
- Divorce rates rose after legal reforms (especially the 1969 Divorce Reform Act), peaked in the 1980sā90s, and have gradually declined.
- No-fault divorce and shorter waiting periods made divorce more accessible and less stigmatized.
- Women's increased independence and higher expectations in marriage have contributed to rising divorce rates.
- Economic and social pressures (job insecurity, cost of living) strain marriages.
Impacts of Rising Divorce
- Feminists see rising divorce as empowering, especially for women leaving unhappy marriages.
- Critics argue divorce destabilizes families, challenges children's well-being, and weakens social cohesion.
- The phenomenon of "silver splitters" (older adults divorcing) reflects pursuit of personal happiness even in later life.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cohabitation ā living together in a romantic relationship without being married.
- Secularization ā decline in the influence of religion on society.
- Pure Relationship ā a partnership maintained only as long as both individuals find it fulfilling.
- No-fault Divorce ā legal dissolution of marriage without proving wrongdoing.
- Silver Splitters ā older adults who divorce later in life.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review lecture graphs on trends in cohabitation, marriage, and divorce rates.
- Prepare for class discussion on how economic and cultural shifts affect relationship choices.